I've always been fascinated by folk songs, especially their grim depressing nature. While they're usually about the everyday miseries of common people, there's always an underlying poetic reflection on the societal issues of the times in those simple words. Ballad of Orin is very much like that.
Like a song with a beautiful melody, this film also lulls you in, but it does so with its aesthetics. The cinematography is devoid of anything fancy, instead it has a gorgeous rustic yet delicate quality (one of the most beautiful looking films I've seen). It starts off with an enchanting "float-in-the-wind" serenity, but as the story progresses the winds start to get stronger and stronger and the ballad becomes bleaker and bleaker. Though the time jumps that portray Orin's life were a bit jarrin, I deeply felt and feared for her, which created a wonderful sense of empathy and tension throughout her journey.
I'd highly recommend seeking out Ballad of Orin. It's a beautiful film. You don't really need any preexisting knowledge of Japanese folklore or history, everything's very well explained.
